By Carl Holcomb
“Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”
Theodore Roosevelt was talking about foreign policy, but baseball certainly can apply the proverb.
The Class A defending state champion East Hardy Cougars roamed into George Hott Field and were sequestered by the Class AA Moorefield Yellow Jackets 8-4 for the first edition of the Hardy Boys Hardball Classic.
The Yellow Jackets played Connect-Four, doubling up on East Hardy with the help of those big sticks counting seven total hits.
Moorefield freshman pitcher Matthew Iman quieted the Cougars with 12 strikeouts over six innings and allowed six hits and junior Kail Greenwalt closed the game allowing one hit and two runs.
East Hardy sophomore starting pitcher Gage Dove struggled with erratic locations creating four walks, but the defense helped to keep the Yellow Jackets at just one run through three innings.
Moorefield sent Dove to the dugout with the bases loaded and game tied in the bottom of the fourth inning as the sparks started to light the sky for six runs in the frame to secure a 7-2 advantage.
East Hardy sophomore pitcher Kyrstian Byram entered for one complete inning allowing three hits and notching two strikeouts. East Hardy freshman Cole Lantz finished the game with one strikeout and allowed one hit.
Moorefield’s hitting leaders were Caleb Flinn and Blake Snyder with two hits apiece. East Hardy’s Mason Hamilton connected for a game-high three hits with one RBI and scored once.
“These guys just kept the momentum from the Petersburg game and let that feed their energy level (zero caffeine). It has been a great atmosphere in the dugout today. They were excited for each other and cheering each other on. We’ve had some mistakes at different times over the years the past couple games, but these guys have overcome that and don’t let it bother them. They just go on to the next play and next pitch. You could see the confidence building with Snyder against Petersburg and Iman today pitching well with 12 strikeouts. It was a great team effort and the atmosphere was where it should be,” Moorefield coach Wade Armentrout remarked.
The Cougars loaded the bases to start the game as Evan Hamilton drew a leadoff walk, then Mason Hamilton hit into a fielder’s choice with Evan safely reaching second base and Levi Price received a free pass from Iman.
Iman adjusted with a strikeout to Shayne Sisler, then induced an RBI groundout from Dayton Dove as the Cougars took the initial edge.
Iman escaped further damage with a strikeout to Gage Dove.
Moorefield leadoff batter Zakk Keplinger ripped off a single, then Cougars pitcher Gage Dove countered with a strikeout.
Keplinger rounded to third base with the help of pitches go-ing awry, then Oliver Crites drew a walk to put runners on the corners.
The Moorefield dugout chatter was at full tilt.
Trevor Baldwin notched the game tying RBI sacrifice fly for the Yellow Jackets.
Dove hit Blake Snyder for a free path to first base and got out of the jam as Iman’s towering shot was caught by Levi Price in center field to keep the game deadlocked at 1-all.
Iman opened the second inning with back-to-back strikeouts on East Hardy’s Owen Miller and Mason Wilkins before issuing a full-count walk to Patrick Mills, who was stranded on a groundout.
Moorefield’s Caleb Flinn reached base on an error and Eastyn Haines drew a walk.
Kail Greenwalt hit into a fielder’s choice out at third base by Mason Wilkins.
Keplinger hit into a double play connection by the Hamilton twins to end the inning.
East Hardy’s Mason Hamilton rocketed a single down the third base line, but left aboard on a pair of strikeouts and a groundout.
Moorefield’s Edison Metheny bunted and stepped out of the box in the process for the first out and the Cougars defense put Moorefield down ignorer as Price caught a fly ball and Dayton Dove caught a pop-up.
The fans were treated to a plethora of fireworks in the fourth inning.
East Hardy’s Gage Dove and Owen Miller notched back-to-back singles and Mason Wilkins successfully placed a bunt for a safe single to juice the bases.
Iman responded with a strikeout to Mills, then the Cougars pounced back as Evan Hamilton sliced an RBI single into center field to regain the lead, 2-1.
The Cougars failed to tack on more runs as Iman closed the door with strikeouts to Mason Hamilton and Levi Price.
The Yellow Jackets started swarming with a single by Snyder ricocheting away from Sisler.
Snyder swiped second on a crazy pitch, then Iman was given a free pass.
The runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Flinn completing his job.
A wild pitch tied the game as Snyder came home.
Haines drew a walk and Greenwalt was hit by a pitch.
East Hardy brought in Byram, who was met by Keplnger smacking an RBI single off the mound putting the Yellow Jackets on top for good.
Metheny added a run on a sacrifice fly, 4-2.
Crites belted a two-run producing single into left field to give the Yellow Jackets a 6-2 edge.
Baldwin singled on the next at-bat, then Flinn created a distraction on a dropped third strike sending a run home for a 7-2 lead.
Byram prevented further damage with a strikeout to finish the frame.
The Cougars went down in order during the fifth inning on a strikeout and two groundouts.
Flinn singled for Moorefield, then Haines flew out to Price.
Cole Lantz stepped to the mound for the Cougars, inducing a groundout and tossing a strikeout.
Iman garnered two strikeouts and induced a groundout against East Hardy in the sixth inning.
Moorefield’s Baldwin drew a walk with two outs.
Snyder ripped an RBI single into center field with the throw by Price to catcher Dayton Dove was a little too late with Baldwin sliding in behind the catch simultaneously, however, an alert throw to second base enabled Evan Hamilton to apply the tag on Snyder in a short game of tag.
East Hardy had some magic in the seventh inning as Evan Hamilton hit a sharp grounder to third base and it couldn’t be corralled, then Mason Hamilton crushed an RBI triple into center field.
Price hit a laser which was snagged by Baldwin.
Sisler connected for an RBI sacrifice fly as the Cougars sliced the deficit in half, 8-4.
Greenwalt induced a game-ending groundout fielded by Metheny over to Iman at first base off the bat of Dayton Dove to seal the win.
Moorefield earned the bragging rights for the first Hardy Boys Hardball Classic.
